Sexier Than A Squirrel: Dog Training That Gets Real Life Results

• Inside Flyball: Speed, Safety, Mindset & Crufts Prep ft. Nicole

  Send us a textFlyball is loud. Barking. Gates slamming. Paws pounding turf. Behind it all -  pure skill.In this episode, Nicole - a force-free flyball trainer and vet - breaks down how elite teams turn raw arousal into laser-focused speed and rock-solid safety, even under the pressure of Crufts.What We Cover (Fast + Clear): • How to fix box turns without frying your dog’s brain • When food beats toys for technical flyball work • Why the fixed nine-inch Crufts jump changes stride planning • How to prep for loud crowds, benched halls, and high-energy lanes • The real mechanics behind a 3.33-second singles run • Rabbit-skin balls: useful tool or training trap? • Why her team runs indoor-only on springy rubber for long-term safety • How to know when a dog needs to retire—even if they love to runNew to Flyball? We map out UKFL, BFA, and the new outdoor-only league, plus exactly what to look for in a great team: their training choices, warm-ups, cooldowns, and culture.If you care about speed, kindness, and teamwork, this conversation gives you practical takeaways you can use in your next session.🎧 Listen now, hit “Follow,” and share this episode with someone who loves a fast dog and thoughtful training. Then ask yourself: What’s one thing you’ll try this week?Support the showIf you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog - Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

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• Why Most Vet Visits Go Wrong And the Simple Steps That Make Them Go Right ft. Alice Hildred

  Send us a textVet days don’t have to feel like a battle. We break down a calmer, smarter way to get great care for your dog by preparing the right evidence, shaping the environment, and training simple skills that pay off when it matters. From short videos of movement and wound healing to clear photos of stool or vomit, we show how to brief your vet with exactly what they need to see so a ten-minute consult becomes targeted, not rushed. You’ll hear how waiting in the car, asking for outdoor consults, and timing drop-offs can transform stress levels for everyone.We also tackle the moments where speed saves lives. Pyometra can look like “just a tummy bug” until it’s not; we explain the signs, the urgency, and how to advocate for scans when your gut says something’s wrong. Alongside that, we talk through positive muzzle training as a crucial life skill, not a stigma. Done well, a muzzle becomes a cue for rewards and calm handling, useful for pain exams, travel rules, or breed legislation, and a safety net that protects vets, techs, and your dog.To round it out, we share practical first aid steps and why a simple kit plus a printed quick-reference guide can steady your decisions when adrenaline spikes. Add in a handful of “vet games” that build consent, optimism, and mat settling, and you’ve got a playbook for kinder care and faster diagnoses. If this conversation helps you or your vet team, pass it on. Subscribe for more real-world training wins, share with a dog-loving friend, and leave a review to help others find the show.Support the showIf you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog - Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

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• When Your Heart Dog Dies Young: What Nobody Tells You About Grief ft. Debbie Ganung-Rich

  Send us a textA normal training day. A happy cocker spaniel. Then a sudden shift - arched back, tucked tail, fever, vomiting - and a rush into a world of labs, ultrasound, and impossible choices. We sit with Debbie as she relives Marley’s final hours, from the first quiet signs to an emergency diagnosis of gallbladder mucocele, a condition that often hides.Beyond medicine lies the heart. Debbie names the shock few dare to say out loud: when a heart dog dies young, grief can break the body. We talk broken heart syndrome, anxiety spikes, and the odd, floating hours after the phone rings. Lauren shares the tools that helped ... therapy, journaling, structure, and a focus on gratitude that doesn’t erase pain but gives it shape. There’s no single right way to mourn. Some people wait before welcoming a new dog; others need a lead in hand. Both paths honour love.Threaded through the sorrow is Marley’s legacy: tricks that sparked laughter, dance routines that built confidence, and games-based training that turned optimism into a daily habit. Debbie explains why she left aversive methods for kind, reward-based work and how better mechanics ... fading lures, clean reinforcement, simple setups ... made progress stick. At 72, she’s drafting a book, dreaming up a small online venture, and exploring a future with another American cocker, not to replace Marley, but to carry forward the joy he started.If you’ve ever faced a sudden, devastating diagnosis ... or you want to be ready if it comes ... this conversation offers practical guidance and gentle company. Listen, share Marley’s name, and, if you need it, reach for help. Subscribe, leave a review to support the show, and tell us what legacy your dog left you.Support the showIf you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog - Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

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• Dignity Over Delay: Rethinking Pet Euthanasia, Treatment, And Quality Of Life ft. Linda Hughes

  Send us a textGrief is heavy; choice is heavier. We open the door to a conversation many avoid: how to make humane, timely end-of-life decisions for our dogs and other animals without surrendering dignity to fear or delay. Through real stories—a goat with Johne’s disease, a Labrador remembered with regret, a joyful dog named Eazy whose last morning was full of play ... we map the emotional terrain and the practical steps that lead to a kinder farewell.We talk about the hard calls that vets present and what they mean in real life: failed vein access, prolonged sedation, and invasive procedures that add risk without improving outcomes. You’ll hear why “a day early rather than a day late” can prevent traumatic endings like haemorrhage, suffocation, or frantic final car rides. We share how to plan a peaceful goodbye at home, in a place your dog loves ... the training arena, the garden, a sunny bed ... with familiar voices, favourite games, and last suppers that say “you’re safe.” Presence matters; calm touch and routine reduce fear, and those final moments become a gentle memory instead of a lifelong scar.We also challenge treatment norms. Not every surgery, MRI, or chemo protocol serves the animal when the prognosis is poor. We walk through the questions that bring clarity: What does recovery look like? What comfort will this buy? What risks are certain? Alongside honest talk about limits, we cover supportive care ... nutrition upgrades, raw diets when appropriate, targeted supplements, and low-stress routines—that can boost wellbeing without false hope. The through line is stewardship: asking tough questions, choosing compassion over delay, and trusting yourself to act before suffering eclipses joy.If you’re bracing for a hard decision or carrying the weight of one that has passed, this conversation offers language, frameworks, and courage for the moments that matter most. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the one question you’d ask your vet before making the call.Support the showIf you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog - Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

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• Why Taking Charge Of Your Dog’s World Is Your Responsibility ft. Alice & Bonnie

  Send us a textResponsibility isn’t a vibe—it’s a skill set that protects your dog, your community, and your peace of mind. We open with a frank look at UK law and why “friendly” doesn’t matter if someone feels scared, especially when your dog is big and loud. Then we share Bonnie’s transformation from high-stakes history to steady, social companion, using practical tools any owner can apply: games-based training, thoughtful management, and stepwise freedom.We break down the real difference size and arousal make in public spaces and how to lower risk with clear choices. You’ll hear simple ways to turn chaos into calm: teaching a rock-solid recall and proximity, introducing a positive muzzle for safety, and making off-lead time a gradual, low-pressure progression rather than an all-or-nothing leap. At the vet, we show how planning ahead—videos, car waiting, cooperative care—can prevent panic and protect everyone. At home, we talk countersurfing prevention, guest setups, pens and gates, and how tiny tweaks stop big mistakes from ever happening.Bonnie’s “ding dong dash” routine for deliveries shows how boundaries create freedom. With selective play, capped arousal, and careful dog-to-dog intros, progress sticks and stress stays low. Games turn training into emotion change, not just obedience; management buys safety while those new habits bed in. If you’ve wondered how to juggle kindness with control, or how to move from fear of mistakes to confident, everyday wins, this is your guide to becoming your dog’s best advocate and safest leader.If this helped you rethink responsibility, share it with someone who needs a clearer plan. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us your non‑negotiable safety habit ... we’d love to hear it.Support the showIf you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog - Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

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